Pumping system and apparatus therefor



Feb. 28; 1933.`

w; c. HARPER A PUKPING SYSTEM AND APPARATUSk THEREFOR Ill'llr' I Filed April 1s, 1931 Ifo/2@ Harper (14.150: nel,

4tatentecl Feb. 28, l933` UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE My invention relates to improvements in pumping systems and apparatus therefor, and more particularly to a pump for use 1n deep oil wells, although not Anecessarily restricted to this use.

In the pumping of oil from wells of considerable depth, numerous diiculties have been encountered due to the breaking and dama ing of arts caused by the weight of the co 1 umn o oil, the accumulation of as 1n the pump tubing, and the leakage o acklng calused by the great .weight of the c u mn of o1 An important object of my invention is to obviate these diculties.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanvmg drawin whichforms 2 a part of this specification, an wherein like characters of reference denote hke or correy spending parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of my improved pumping apparatus arranged in a well casing or shaft,

Figure 2 is a similar view of another portion thereof,

Figure Bis a detail sectional viewof my tube venting apparatus,

Figure 4 is a `transverse sectionaly view through the pump relay, K

Figure 5 1s a detail elevation of my improved packingl assembly,

' Figure 7 is an elevation of one of the packing followers,

Figure 8 is a sectional view thereof, Figure 9-is an elevation of one of my improved packing cups, and,

Figure 10 is a sectional viewthereof.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose ofl illustration is shown a preferred embodiment ofmy invention, the numeral 11 designates the usual Well wall or casing in` which the pump tubing 12 is arranged. The pump tubing has a relatively small diameter and a relatively large space is consequently left'between the wall or casing 11 and the tubing 12. A polished reciprocating pumprrod 13 is ar- Figure 6 is a sectional view-of the cap thereranged inthe tubing 12 and is connected to a pump plunger 14 of the usual constructionA including the cups 15 and the valve 16. Figure '1 representsa portion of the well between the upper and lower ends thereof. A similar `liliplunger 14 is arranged at the lower end of the tubing 12 as seen inligure 2. When the pump rod is reciprocat ,1" oil is forced up through the valve 16, andin a deep well the column of oil being pum ed is very high and its weight rests entire upon the\ pum plungers and tubing. his wei ht is s cient -in very deep wells to ama `the plunger and to burst the tubing 12, t ereby` causing considerable expense and'annoyanoe 65 to the operators. To obviate these diiculties I propose to break up this column of lj uid into any number of units by means of retlays arranged vat suitable intervals in the pump tubing. Such a relay is shown in Figure 1.

A relay section comprises'a body 17 shown as cylindrical in shape but which may be of any suitable shape, forinstance as shown in dotted lines at 18 in Figure 4. The body is provided with a longitudinal bore 19 of 75 slightly ksmaller diameter than the tubing 12 4 thereabove, and having an enlargedV screwthreaded portion adapted to receive the end of the tube 12. The lower end of the bore 19 is screw-threaded to receive the upper end of 1 the lower section of the tube 12 whichis of i less diameter than `the upper section ofthe tube and the bore 19.

Arranged in the bore 19 is a packing unit.. or assembly the body shell 20 of which is slightly tapered to jam into the bore 19 and L block the same at a point spaced a substantial distance from the lower end thereof and a shoulder 20 may be arranged in the bore to act as a stop forthe shell 20. The polished pump rod 13 extends through the packing unit and at a point therebelow is connected by a coupling 21 with the lower section of the pump rod. The coupling 21 is of greater diameter than the rod 13 .and consequently when the pump rod is drawn upwardly through the tube, in removing it,the coupling will jar the packing unit loose and liftit from the bore 19 and seat shoulder 20.

The body `section 17 of the relay is provided .10

with a longitudinal relay bore or chamber 22 plug 25.

A valve seat 26 is arranged in the chamber 22 at a point spaced from the upper end thereof and below the upper port 23. A perforated ball cage 27 is arranged above the valve seat 26 and encloses a ball valve 28 which normally rests upon the seat 26. The chamber.

22 is preferably enlarged above the valve seat 26 toprovide a space around the cage 27, and a bolt 29 extends through the plug 25 and engages the top of the cage to clamp it in position.

In operation, the oil raised by the pump does not pass the packing unit which obstructs the bore 19 but is drawn through the lower opening 23 into the chamber 22, past the ball valve 28, out through the perforations in the cage and through the upper port 23 into the tubing. The ball. 28 prevents return of the oil or other liquid and the weight of the col umn is borne by the packing unit.

It will be seen that a large space is provided in the bore 19 between the lower port 23 and the packing unit. This space allows for the displacement of the portion of the pump rod below the packing unit.

In order to prevent damage due to excessive pressure in the tubing I provide a vent which opens into the displacement space below the packing unit. This vent comprises a passage 3() extending from the top of the body 17 to the bore 19 below the packing unit. A valve seat 31 is arranged in the passage 30 adjacent its upper end and a perforated valve cage 32 rests upon the top of the valve seat. A valve 33 is arranged in the cage 32 and is pressed against the valve seat by a coil spring 34 which is held in the cage by the screw plug 35. Tension on the valve 33 may be adjusted by means of the plug 35 and by variations in spring strength.

Excessive pressure in the bore 19 either of gas or oil will unseat the valve 33 and vent into the space between the casing 11 and tubing 12. Adjustment of the plug 35 and strength of spring used determines the pressure at which the valve 33 will be unseated. Gas is often present in the oil in the form of bubbles under pressure which expand as they rise, causing How or pressure which is controlled by the vent 30, valve`33, and tension of spring.

This relay system described maybe used with the standard working equipment now used in deep wells or may be used in conjunction with the gas cushion eliminator hereinafter described.

Gas and air often collect in the working tube of an' oil well and form a cushion which renders the ump stroke wholly or partially ineffective. I provide a gas eliminator which will allow escape of the gas without allowing oil to escape from the tubing. This gas eliminator is desirable because the vent 33 is set to operate only at excessive pressures, to prevent loss of oil except in emergencies; this eliminator will help greatly to get surer and more dependable operation.

My gas eliminator comprises a by-pass chamber 36 arranged above the relay body 17 and communicating with the tubing 12 adjacent its top and bottom by means of ports 37. The chamber 36 is closed at its lower end and itsopen upper end is screw-threaded to receive a plug 38 which is provided with a central threaded bore to receive an elongated cylindrical valve body 39 which extends completely through the plug 38 and is held in adjusted position therein by means of a nut 40. The valve body is provided with a suitable central bore 41 which is constricted adjacent its center and enlarged at its upper end. The enlarged upper end of the bore 41 is closed by a removable plug 42. Openings 43 extend from the enlarged upper end ofthe bore 41 to the exterior of thc valve body, and a check valve 44 has a stem extending down into the bore 41 from the enlarged portion thereof. Pressure from `within the chamber 36 will raise the check valve 44 to allow gas o`r the like to pass out through the openings 43 into the casing 11, but the check valve normally prevents the entrance of gas or other liuid into the chamber 36.

An elongated float 45, of brass or other tine grained metal, is arranged within the chambers 36 and rests upon a coil spring 46 supported by a cap 47 adjustably supported in the lower end of the chamber by means of a screw bolt 48. If desired the bolt 48 may be formed separately from the cap 47 so that the bolt 48 may be removed and the tension of the spring 46 be determined by inserting an instrument through the bolt opening and pressing against the bottom of the plate 47. The float 45 is of slightly less diameter than the chamber 36 and extends from the spring 46 to a point adjacent the lower end of the valve body 39 but spaced therebelow. A valve stem 49 is carried by the float at its upper end and normally extends into the lower end of the bore 41 which is preferably flared. When the float is raised, the stem 49 engages the constricted portion of the bore 41 and prevents the escape of Huid therethrough. In the lower position of the float, however, fluid within the chamber 36 can pass around the stem 49 and out through the openings 43, as the bore 41 is of greater diameter than the stem, except at its constricted portion.

In operation, when oil is raised bv the 'n order to combat this diiiculty' I have shown the not be provided with my relay system.

pum 14 it enters the. chamber 36 through the ower port 37and raises the float 45, thereby closing the bore 41 and preventin escape of the oil, which passes out throug the upper port 37 into the tubing 12. When a gas cushion forms, however, the gas entering the chamber `36 does not raisethe float but passes through the bore 41,v past the check valve and out through the o ning 43. As soon as oil is raised to the c amber 36, the float rises and closes the vent.

In Figure 1 I have shown my gas eliminator as used in conjunction with Vthe pump relay,` and when so used is preferably narranged immediately above the top` of the relay. It is obvious however that it maybe otherwise arranged, or that it may be used in a pump having no relays. In Figure 2 I gas eliminator used adjacent the lower end o a well which may or may by-pass chamber :36 is arranged above the usual stand valve 50.

In connection with the pump 14 I employ a displacement bar 51 adapted to bridge the s ace between the ports 37 kand which is rigi ly secured at its lower end to the lower section of the pump rod 13.k The bar, 51 has a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the tubing, 12 and the consequent difference between the displacement of the bar and the ca acity of a corresponding section ofthe tublng is substantially equal to the capacity of the valve 16.-

The upper end of the displacement bar is hollow and its side walls are dished inwardly to rovide an annular space 52 of substantiall) size between the hollow` end of the bar and the walls of the tubing. The dished upper side walls of the bar are perforated to allow entrance o f fluid to the hollow chamber 53 in the bar which communicates with the tubular stem 54 of the pump 14 by means of a threaded connection therewith. In the pumping operation oil is forced from the annular space 52 to the chamber 53 through the perforations in the walls thereof and thence up the stem 54 to the valve 16.

The bar 51, in addition to servingas a y.

displacement member also bridges the space between the ports 37 and prevents the cups 15 of the pump engaging the ports and being torn or otherwise damaged.

The bar 51 in Figure 2 is in all respects i similar to that shown in Figure 1 except thatk being located at the lower end of the well is not connected at its lower end toa pump rod section.

With each relay used, there will be a reduction in the size of the tubing, approachin the bottom of the well.

novel packing unit is shown in section inFlgure 1 and in detail in Figures 5, 6, 7

`8, 9 and 10. The body shell 20 of the unit is `generally. cylindrical in shape but .tapers The mg isf arrange in the `bottom of the body shell and 1s adapted toreoeive the polished pump e rod. The open up r end of the shell 20 is closed by means o `a screw threaded- `bore 58 to receive the pump rod. The cups 56 are of leather orl any other suitable material and each comprises a circular ange 59 of substantially the same diameter `as `the interior of the shell 20 and a `raised body portion which tapers from the circular flange to its rounded top portion adjacent the bore 58, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, to provide a body portion which is generally frustoconical in shape.

The followers 57 are cylindrical in ,shape and on their lower sides are each provided with a `centrally arranged recess `61 to receive the body portion of the adjacent cup. Each `recess 61 has the same general shape as the body portions Aof the cups but are somewhat larger to leave a space between the` projecting bodyl portions of the cups and the walls of the recesses in the followers. A simi- `lar recess 61 is arranged in the plug 55 to and while it will clamp the flanges 59 between the followers the compression of the plug is `not relied upon to force the cups against the pump rod. Any fluid under pressure which enters between the pump rod and plug 55 will enter the space between the body por` tion of the cup yand the `recess 61 and will force the cup against the rod. Any increase in pressure exerts a greater force on the cup to press it against the rod. Any fluid which passes the first cup engages the second cup, and any fluid passing that cup acts on the next cup. Any number of cups may be used.

It is thought obvious that my improved packing cups are applicable to other uses 4than that described.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that various changes in the size, `shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a'deep well` pump, a working tubing,

\ slightly from to bottom. A central opena relay by-pass chamber arranged ad'acent said tubing and communicating therewith by means of ports arranged' adjacent the upper and lower ends of the chamber, a member secured in said tubing between the ports communicating with the relay chamber and completely obstructing the tubing, said member being spaced a substantial distance above the lower port, and a pump rod extending through said chamber.

2. In a deep well pump, a working tubing, a relay by-pass chamber arrangedadjacent said tubing and communicating therewith by means of ports arranged adjacent the upper and lower ends of the chamber, a check valve in said chamber, a packing member secured in said tubing between the ports communicating with the relay chamber and completely obstructing the tubing, said packing member being spaced a substantial distance above the lower port to provide a displacement space in said tubing above the iower port, and a pump rod extending through said chamber.

3. In a deep well pump, a working tubin a relay by-pass chamber communicating wit said tubing adjacent the upper and lower ends of the chamber, a member secured in said tubing between the ports and spaced a substantial distance above the lower port, said member completely obstructing the tubing, a vent arranged between the lower port and said member, `and a pump rod extending through said member.

4. In a deep Well pump, a working tubing, a. relay by-pass chamber communicating with the tubing by means of ports arran ed adjacent the upper and lower ends of t e chamber, a check valve arranged in the chamber, a packing member secured in said tubing between the ports and spaced a substantial distance above the lower port, a relief valve arranged below the packing member and above the lower port, said packing member completely obstructing the tubing, and a pump rod extending through said packing member.

5. In a. deep well pump, the combination with a working tubing of a relay member comprising a body portion having a tubin bore extending longitudinally therethroug and ada ted to be connected at both ends to the wor ing tubing to form a continuation thereof, said body portion havin a relay chamber therein communicating wit the tubing bore by means of ports arranged adjacent its upper and lower ends, a valve seat arranged in said relay chamber between said ports, a check valve arranged above the valve seat to normally engage the same and prevent return of fluid pumped through the chamber, a packingmember secured in the tubing bore between the ports and completely obstructing the same, said packing member being spaced a substantial distance above the lower port to provide a displacement chamber, a passage connecting said displacement cham- 

